Flexible-shaft link.



A. B. CADMAN. FLEXIBLE SHAFT LINK. APPLICATIONFILED APR. 15. 1913.

Patented Jan. 11, 1916.

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ADIJI BENJAMIN GADIVIAN, OF BELOIT,WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TOSTElVART-WARNER SPEEDOMETER CORPORATION, OF BELOIT, VTISCONSIN, ACGBPOEATION 033 VIR- GINIA.

FLEXIBLE-SHAFT LINK.

Application filed April 15, 1913.

To all whom '52, may concern Be it known that I, Anni BENJAMIN CAD- MAN,a citizen of the United States, residing at Beloit, county of Rock,State of Wisconsin, have made a certain new and useful Flexible-ShaftLink, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to flexible shaft links.

The object of the invention is to provide a flexible shaft link which issimple in structure, economical to manufacture, and which is strong anddurable in use.

A further object is to provide a flexible shaft link of the naturereferred to which is made in one integral piece.

Other objects of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter.

The invention consists substantially in the construction, combination,location and relative arrangement of parts, all as will be more fullyhereinafter set forth, as shown in the accompanying drawing and finallypointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawing,- Figure 1 is a view in developedplan showing a blank sheet of metal employed to form an integral orone-piece flexible shaft link in accordance with the principles of myinvention, and showing such sheet shaped to the required outline. Fig. 2is a view in plan showing a flexible shaft composed of integral orone-piece links suitably connected together. Fig. 3 is a View showing arivet for pivotally connecting the proximate ends of adjacent links.

In carrying out my invention 1 stamp or out out a sheet of metal havingthe end body portions 5, 6, and the end extensions 7, 8, the bodyportions 5, 6, being connected together by an intermediate integralnarrow connecting strip or web 9. If desired one side edge of each bodyportion may be provided with a recess or seat 10, and the other sideedge thereof with a cooperative projection or extension 11, adapted tointerengage therewith when said side edges are brought into abuttingrelation. The end extensions 7, 8, are provided with rivet holes 12, toreceive the ends of rivets 13.

The metal sheet, formed as above described, is then bent or foldedtransversely of the narrow connecting web or strip 9, so as to form thelatter into a loop 14, as shown, thereby bringing the body portionsSpecification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 11, rare.

Serial No. 761,152.

5, 6, into side-by-side relation with respect to each other. These bodyportions are also bent or curved transversely so as to bring the sideedges of the one respectively into abutting relation with thecorresponding side edges of the other, to form a link body ofsubstantially circular contour in cross section with the end projections7, 8, arranged opposite to each other and spaced apart to receive theends of a rivet 13, to hold the body parts of the link together andto-afi'ord a means for pivotally connecting up the proximate ends ofadjacent links. It will be seen that the link is provided with a loop 11, at one end which is formed in one piece with the body portions of thelink, while at the other end provision is: made to receive the rivet 13.Now by in sorting the rivet 13, at the end of one link through the loop14:, on the proximate end of the adjacent link, the links are flexiblyand pivotally connected together suflicient space being provided betweenthe end projections 7, 8, when the link is completed, to allow forfreedom of movement of the loop 1% therebetween when adjacent links areconnected together.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I provide anexceedingly simple, cheap and efficient structure of flexible shaft linkwhich is made in one integral piece, and therefore capable of beingrapidly made and assembled. It will also be seen that the interengagingseats and projections 10, 11, take any strains which tend to relativelyshift the body portions 5, 6, endwise with reference to each other,thereby relieving the rivets of such strains.

Having now set forth the objects and nature of my invention, and aconstruction embodying the principles thereof, what I claim as new anduseful, and of my own invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is

1. A flexible shaft link composed of semi cylindrical body portions andan intermediate loop portion connecting the same at one end, saidsemi-cylindrical body portions interlocked with each other at theircorresponding meeting edges, and a rivet connecting together the freeends of the body portions.

2. A flexible shaft link composed of semicylindrical body portions andan integral intermediate loop portion connecting the same at one end,said body portions having extensions at their free ends, andinterlocking with each other at their corresponding meeting edges, and arivet connecting together said extensions.

3. A flexible shaft link composed of semicylindrical body portions andan intermediate loop portion connecting the same at one end, thecorresponding meeting edges of said body portions having the one arecess and the cther a projection engaging in said recess, and a rivetconnecting together the free ends of said body portions. 1

4. A flexible shaft composed of links each comprising body portionshaving their edges brought into respectively abutting relation, saidbody portions being connected together at one end by a loop portionformed integrally therewith, the meeting edges of the body portionsbeing formed one With a transversely extending projection and the otherwith a cooperating seat to receive the same, and a rivet connectingtogether the free ends of said body portions, the rivet at the end ofone link passing through the integral loop at the proximate .end of thenext adjacent link.

5. A flexible shaft link formed from a single piece and composed ofsemi-cylindrical body portions, and a loop portion integrally connectingthe same at one end, the free ends of said body portions havingextensions, the corresponding meeting edges of said body portionsinterlocking with each other, and a rivet connecting together saidextensions.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of thesubscribing Witnesses, on this 31st day of March, A. D., 1913.

ADDI BENJAMIN CADMAN.

Witnesses:

O. O. SULLIVAN, S. HUDSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents Washington. D. C.

